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Mar 3, 2015 at 12:06 PM

Without leaving your home, office or chair, you can view and comment on the latest proposals for land use, parking/transportation, urban design, historic resources, green infrastructure and more in this exciting part of the Central City

Now you can share the experience of the February 19 open house at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center.

Welcome to the SE Quadrant Virtual Open House! We’re glad you came.

Perhaps you’re a business owner in the Central Eastside Industrial District. Maybe you pass through the district on your way to and from downtown. Or just like to visit to enjoy the food, drink and creative energy of the area. Any way you experience it, there’s no denying this part of Portland is bustling with activity: new development and businesses; more bikes, cars and trucks; and increased attention and interest from near and far.

The SE Quadrant planning effort is harnessing all of that energy into a new long-range plan for the area. The plan will help ensure that this unique part of the city evolves the way Portlanders want it to.

So far we’ve heard that people want to preserve the character of the area with its historic warehouses and protect its unique role as an industrial sanctuary and business incubator. But they also recognize that as the area grows and changes, it creates pressure on the streets and transportation system to accommodate more trucks, cars and even bikes. And then there’s its relationship to the river, which provides opportunities for greater access to this beloved natural resource, recreation, and even arts and culture.

So get comfy and explore the proposals below. Then tell us what you think with the comment form.

As you look at the proposals that follow, keep in mind that most of the SE Quadrant is an industrial sanctuary and has long served as an incubator for small businesses. A key goal of the new plan is to maintain this sanctuary while allowing for new industrial businesses and increased employment density.

Land for Jobs

The Central Eastside is experiencing a period of extensive growth and renewal. But without new regulatory tools, the Central City will not be able to keep up with the demand for employment land. Staff land use proposals tweak the existing zoning to allow for more dense employment in the Central Eastside, including the new station areas along the MAX Orange Line due to open in September 2015.

Staff are also preparing a new industrial disclosure statement that would inform people and businesses moving into the area about the characteristics (noise, fumes, trucks) common to the district. The disclosure would make it clear that the City of Portland would not enforce complaints against lawful activity within the district.

Historic Resources

Proposals also call for recognizing the historic character of much of the Central Eastside, particularly along historic main streets such as Morrison Street.

Urban design

Potential conflicts between different kinds of businesses and uses — particularly residential, retail and industrial areas — are addressed through urban design. These proposals seek to clarify how areas with different zoning can co-exist.

Transportation, parking, freight

Another area of concern is the already limited parking in the district. With more jobs and residents coming to the district, congestion on the streets will affect the ability of businesses to move freight. These proposals address concerns about traffic and congestion by applying a wide set of tools.

Other proposals would help reduce conflicts between trucks and other types of traveling to and through the district. By making some routes that are less important to freight more attractive for bicycles and pedestrians, trucks and bikes will be less likely to get in each other’s way.

Green Loop

A concept for a bicycle and pedestrian loop is proposed for the Central City. This “Green Loop” would be a key north-south route in the Central Eastside, connecting to the South Waterfront and downtown via the new Tilikum Crossing bridge. The eastside leg would include an I-84 pedestrian/bicycle bridge. What factors should be considered in picking a route, considering some initial data showing how loading and intersections could impact design?

Open space

Finally, staff responded to concerns about the lack of open space, green infrastructure such as trees, and connections and activity along the river. Due to the industrial nature of the district, areas for employees and residents to gather and relax will likely be near the most intense employment or residential development. The exception would be at the waterfront where there may be new park-like areas and enhanced habitat.

The river

Bringing economic activity to the waterfront is also a key element of the proposals. Public/private partnerships will be required, especially in the areas where the most intense employment or residential development occurs.

What do you think?

Your input is important to us! You can comment on the materials above or tell us what’s missing by Friday, March 20th (approximately 3 weeks). Please use the comment form to send us your input. Bonus: Refer to a specific topic or map/poster to help us incorporate your feedback.

Thank you for your time and help.

Next Steps

Input from the open house, the Stakeholder Advisory Committee and other Central Eastside stakeholders will help shape the Public Review Draft of the SE Quadrant Plan to be released in late April. In late May/June, the Planning and Sustainability Commission will hold public hearings on the Proposed Draft, followed by City Council hearings on the plan in summer/early fall of 2015.

Feb 27, 2015 at 2:17 PM

Public invited to testify on the amendments at March 5, 2015, City Council Hearing

Amendments to the Recommended Draft of the West Quadrant Plan that were proposed by Mayor Hales, Commissioners Fritz and Novick, and city planners will be the focus of a second hearing on March 5, 2015, at 2 p.m., time certain.

The public is welcome to testify on any amendments included in the list. Please reference the Amendment # (far left column) in testimony.

Feb 26, 2015 at 12:52 PM

Planning and Sustainability Commission to discuss the Transportation System Plan, housing and residential densities

The Bureau of Planning and Sustainability has published a set of Comprehensive Plan staff reports in preparation for the March 10, 2015, Planning and Sustainability Commission work session. The reports include staff-recommended amendments to the Comprehensive Plan Proposed Draft, in response to public testimony received to date.

Staff reports or memos for subsequent PSC work sessions will be available approximately two weeks prior to each one.

Work Session #4

The March 10 work session will be held at 1900 SW 4th Ave, Rm 2500. The meeting starts at 12:30 p.m., and the final agenda will be posted on the PSC calendar approximately one week before the meeting. The public is invited to attend; however, this is a work session for commissioners, so no public testimony will be taken during this or any other work session.

The PSC will, however, accept written comments on the Proposed Draft until March 13, 2015. Community members are encouraged to review the work session schedule and send their comments about a particular topic to the commission at least eight days before that issue will be discussed. This will allow commissioners time to review relevant testimony before each meeting.

Feb 26, 2015 at 11:21 AM

Planning and Sustainability Commission to discuss the David Douglas School District and Community Involvement policies at February 24 work session

The Bureau of Planning and Sustainability has published a set of Comprehensive Plan staff reports in preparation for the Feb. 24, 2015, Planning and Sustainability Commission work session. The reports include staff-recommended amendments to the Comprehensive Plan Proposed Draft, in response to public testimony received to date.

At the February 24 meeting, the PSC will hold a work session on the above topics from 3 - 5 p.m., followed by a public hearing of the Transportation System Plan (from 5 - 9 p.m.), also posted as a staff report to the commission.

Staff reports or memos for subsequent PSC work sessions will be available approximately two weeks prior to each one.

Work Session #3

The February 24 work session on the Comprehensive Plan Proposed Draft (#3) will be held at 1900 SW 4th Ave, Rm 2500. The meeting starts at 3 p.m., and the final agenda will be posted on the PSC calendar approximately one week before the meeting. The public is invited to attend; however, this is a work session for commissioners, so no public testimony will be taken during this or any other work session. However, the public may testify on the TSP, starting at 5 p.m.

The PSC will continue to accept written comments on the Proposed Draft until March 13, 2015. The public is encouraged to submit testimony as early as possible, but the commissioners will be considering all testimony received through the closing date. Commissioners are community volunteers so they need sufficient time to review such a large volume of testimony.

Testimony is cataloged, scanned and batched together for delivery to the PSC regularly (approximately every two weeks). Staff then prepares reports that summarize the testimony to date, provide preliminary recommendations on the upcoming work session topics and suggest issues requiring further discussion/deliberation by the commissioners. Due to the quantity of testimony received, there may be a short lag between when a letter is submitted and when it is addressed in the relevant staff report.